Baking with the Stars

For special desserts, you may be considering a splurge: mixes from famous chefs or bakeries beloved by celebs. These upscale goodies can be yours, but at a premium price — so we baked, frosted, and tasted to find out if they're worth the dough. Overall verdict: If you need cupcakes for a bake sale, a children's party, or just a take-a-break treat, stick to your favorite supermarket brands. But when you're out to impress, it's good to have these super-talents (all but one) on your team.

Cake Queen

Cake Queen

Martha Stewart's new line of mixes at Macy's wowed us, with special kudos to the chocolate cake. This one asks you to go the extra mile, assembling a filling and a glaze for which ingredients are not included -- but they turn the cake into a showstopper. (Martha Stewart Collection White, Yellow, and Chocolate Cake Mixes, $14 each) Martha Stewart Collection, Macy's; macys.com/marthastewartcollections.